Chapter Text
It was yet another snowy day on Dragonspine. Pure, white snowflakes flitted about with the chilly winds that were ever-present around the snowy peak. There, in a certain alchemist's campsite, sat a man with hair the colour of sunlight tied in a loose braid. He was lounging around, perusing the various shelves stacked with various books on alchemy and beakers filled with colourful substances, whose effects he wasn't too keen on finding out.
Said alchemist was busy at his workstation, observing and scribbling down various stuff that Aether couldn't understand even if he tried.
The two shared idle conversation, with Albedo talking about the latest mishaps in the laboratory with Timaeus and Sucrose, and Klee's rather... explosive visits to Starfell Lake. In return, Aether narrated tales of his newest exploits in Natlan, and the cool technology that he'd seen there. As he expected, this piqued Albedo's curiosity, with him barraging Aether with questions about phlogiston and the unique mechanisms native to that land. The latter found his inquisitive nature rather endearing, and answered his questions to the best of his ability. Aether was glad to see his enthusiasm, since Albedo had seemed to be in a bit of a sour mood when he'd arrived. He'd meant to ask him about it, but since he seemed better, Aether decided it would be best to forget about it. Their conversation meandered, eventually drifting off into a pleasant silence.
A while passed, with neither of them speaking much. The clinking of equipment, the drag of a quill on paper, and the crackling of firewood were the only sounds in the campsite. Eventually, it was Albedo who'd broken the silence first. "So Traveller," Albedo said. His voice had dropped to a murmur. If Aether hadn't been paying the utmost attention to the alchemist, he would've certainly missed it. His eyes were hooked onto the way Albedo's fingers wrapped around the neck of a beaker filled with some odd-looking liquid. "Have you ever felt... discarded?" He asked. On the last word, Aether noted, there was a hint of a tremble in his voice. Aether snapped out of his reverie, eyes moving to look at the alchemist's back, whose gaze was unreachable. "What? What do you mean?"
He couldn't possibly fathom where this had come from. From what he'd learnt, Albedo was one of the most respected people in Mondstadt, as well as cherished. All those he'd met at the Knights of Favonius held nothing but admiration and affection in their hearts for their Chief Alchemist. Not to mention Klee, who jumped up and down with joy, with a face lit up with excitement at the prospect of seeing her 'big brother Albedo'. This was all excluding himself, who — not at all, mind you — who definitely had no personal... affections for the alchemist. Certainly not. Albedo was one of his dearest friends and someone he held in high regard. That was it. Nothing else. He heard a clink, and realized he'd been silent for a moment too long. Aether shook his head, willing his unruly brain to return to the matter at hand. Albedo had now set the beaker down, with one hand now clutching the table. In his other hand, his grasp on the beaker had tightened to a dangerous level. Aether noticed that the other was now slightly trembling, although it wasn't noticeable. Well, not noticeable to people who weren't obsessed with the pale-haired alchemist to the point they could sense even the slightest fluctuation in his emotions, at least. And for better or worse, Aether wasn't a part of that former group. Oh well. That was a crisis for another day, he supposed. For now, he reverted his attention to Albedo, who seemed to be feeling worse with each passing moment.
"Have you felt as though nobody wants you? That in this vast world, not even one soul truly cares about you? Or cherishes you enough to keep you close?" said Albedo, a tremor lacing his voice. Unsure of where this was coming from, Aether began, "Oh, come on now. You know that's not-"
"But it is! It is true." He was cut off by Albedo's voice, sharp and cutting. "Don't try to tell me it isn't." Albedo jerked his head to the side, with loose strands of hair framing his face. "Every single event in my life has gone through the same procedure, with the same results. What other conclusion am I meant to draw from it?" he turned around to face Aether. "What am I meant to think? Am I really this undeserving of love?"
At this, Aether was pained, and he tried to console the alchemist. "Albedo, of course not. You know that there are loads of people who care about you."
At this, Albedo scoffed, a wry grin twisting his features. "Hah... care? Every person I've cared about in my life has abandoned me, thrown me away, and discarded me in the dust." Aether tried to stop him, but his friend barrelled on, a gut-wrenching sorrow wracking his features. "First, it was Gold; she gave me life, called me 'near-perfect', then abandoned me. If she truly thought I were that precious, why would she leave me without a trace? Was she not my mother? Or was I a mere experiment to her?" He panted, the mental exertion starting to take its effect. "And then came Aunt Alice. With her and Klee, I thought I could experience the feeling of having a family again." At this, he scoffed.
"But what would you have it? She, too, disappeared from my life, only leaving Klee behind with me." Aether interrupted him at this point, trying to make his friend see sense. "But Albedo, you still have Timaeus, Sucrose, and the rest of the Knights of Favonius by your side. You know, too, that they all respect and cherish you."
With an incredulous expression crossing his face, Albedo grimaced. "But they're just that – acquaintances and coworkers. At most, they might be a friend. But that's where it ends. Can I not have a real family? Am I just a dishrag, passed on from one person to another? Am I not deserving of love?" he choked out. "And you too are a part of this, Aether. I consider you to be my dearest friend, and yet. And yet, you disappear for months on end, leaving me with nothing but memories to live off of. I understand that you have your own journey to complete and answers to find, but it still hurts. It really, really hurts, Aether."
Aether's heart broke. He understood what Albedo was saying. And to a rather painful extent, he could relate to what the latter felt. Despite not having answers to his questions himself, he still tried to console the other.
"Oh, Albedo. It's not what you think it is. I understand-"
"No! No, you don't." Albedo lashed out, tears brimming at the corners of his eyes, threatening to spill over any moment. "Don't even pretend you understand. Mr. Honorary Knight, Mr. Hero, Tumaini – there's no end to it. All across Teyvat, the people adore you. Whichever nation you go to, people sing your praises. What do you know of feeling unloved? What do you know of being abandoned? You know nothing!" screamed Albedo, the tears finally streaming down his pale skin, having finally reached his breaking point.
"Oh, I know nothing?"